Luke Kuechly: Peyton still has all the throws

Posted by Josh Alper on January 28, 2016, 5:52 PM EST

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Before the AFC championship game, Patriots coach Bill Belichick answered a question about Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning’s diminished production this season by saying that he “would never, ever, ever underestimate” Manning.

The Panthers appear to be taking a similar approach as they prepare for Super Bowl 50. Coach Ron Rivera said that Manning is the “same guy” whose knowledge of the game gives him a strong understanding of the best ways to attack a defense. Linebacker Luke Kuechly is also anticipating a chess match with Manning and adds that he’s not discounting Manning’s arm either.

“He’s still got it,” Kuechly said, via the team’s website. “When you have surgeries like that everyone is going to try to discredit you, but he’s still Peyton. He’s still got all the throws. I don’t care what anyone says. He’s still extremely intelligent, and he can put the ball where it needs to be. He’s been great his whole career, and he’s still great now.”

Manning’s numbers have been modest since returning to the lineup in the second half of Week 17, but he hasn’t thrown an interception after giving the ball away 17 times in the first nine games of the regular season. Continuing that trend against an opportunistic Panthers defense will be vital to Denver’s chances of winning the chess match and the Super Bowl.

milehighcityboss says:
Jan 28, 2016 6:34 PM
Finally a sensible Panther… The Panthers fans and players have been discounting the Broncos. Everyone thinks it will be a blowout.. The perfect storm for the Broncos

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It was 42 -15 before I allowed myself the joy of saying, “we are going to the Super Bowl”

There is plenty of sensible in this town…..especially from the players who in fairness hit the media one day before the Broncos. Either way…i get to see a story book ending (Peyton rides off with a win or my team wins it all).

Good on you for saying the right thing, Kuechly. But we all know he doesn’t have all the throws any longer. He’s a shadow of his former self. Still smart. Still able to make the right play call. But his arm is a noodle.

patsfan4lifesbchamps says:Jan 29, 2016 12:46 AM

How will the Panthers move the ball against that Denver defense? I don’t see how they do it without Denver gifting them some turnovers.

Smart psy ops: convince Peyton he can make all the throws, then get a pick-six for the third game in a row.

joker65 says:Jan 29, 2016 9:12 AM

milehighcityboss says:
Jan 28, 2016 6:34 PM
Finally a sensible Panther… The Panthers fans and players have been discounting the Broncos. Everyone thinks it will be a blowout.. The perfect storm for the Broncos

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I’ve seen more Bronco fans dissing the Panthers than the other way around, at least on these boards. Every comment is saying the Broncos will throttle Carolina and shut down Cam.

NOT ONE Panther player has discounted the Broncos. Please provide the player name who did it and what he said. I’ve seen nothing but respect out those guys.

The Broncos only need to watch how New Orleans beat up Cam Cheating to see how to get into the small brain of that jerk. Cam hates being hit. And the Broncos know how to lay the wood to QB’s. Just ask Tomasina Brady.

The Broncos have realized you cannot out cover an offense, but if you go after the large dog stool in a QB uniform, you will end any scoring threat.